A confident smile goes a long way in helping you look and feel your best. So if you’ve been thinking your teeth need a makeover, dental veneers might be the right option to achieve the smile you want.

As your Mission Viejo/San Clemente cosmetic dentists, the team at Shoreline Dental Studio are experts in providing dental veneers that result in a natural-looking, beautiful new smile. Unlike orthodontic treatments, dental veneers are a more conservative option for enhancing your smile, but yield stunning results.

Interest piqued? Here, six things to know about dental veneers so you can make an informed choice.

1. What Are Dental Veneers?

Dental veneers are thin shells bonded to the fronts of teeth to give you your desired look. There are two kinds of dental veneers: composite resin and porcelain. At Shoreline Dental Studio, we offer porcelain veneers, which are handcrafted and customized to fit your smile.

We offer our patients porcelain veneers because they:

are strong and last a long time, typically 7-15 years
they have a natural-looking surface and mimic the light-reflecting properties of real teeth<
they require the removal of less tooth enamel than with a crown or cap treatment
>they are very stain-resistant

Dental veneers are permanent, but if they become damaged, they can be repaired or replaced.

2. What do Dental Veneers Fix?

As mentioned, dental veneers are a less intrusive option than orthodontics for improving your smile. But what dental issues do they address?

Chipped or worn teeth
Proportionately smaller teeth
Uneven spacing between teeth
Diastema (small gaps between teeth, most noticeably the upper front teeth)
Crooked or misshapen teeth
Discolored or stained teeth that cannot be whitened successfully

Your Mission Viejo and San Clemente dentists can use dental veneers to help change the color, shape, size, or length of your teeth. The result is a smile transformation that’s almost like magic!

3. Who is A Candidate for Dental Veneers?

At this point, you might be wondering if you’re a candidate for dental veneers. Before getting veneers, you and your dentist will cover the following to determine if veneers are the right option for you:

Aesthetic concerns: This is typically a good place to start when considering veneers. What dental issues do you want addressed?

Healthy teeth and gums: Our first priority for our patients is their oral health. And having healthy teeth and gums is key for getting veneers. Dr. Ritzau, Dr. Livingston, or Dr. Saad will examine your mouth for any signs of tooth decay, gum inflammation, or gum disease. If your dentist finds any oral health issues, they will have to treat them first before veneers.

Bruxism: Do you clench or grind your teeth? If so, veneers might not be your best choice. Bruxism creates tremendous pressure and stress on your jaw and teeth. This can cause veneers to crack or chip.

It’s a permanent procedure: Attaching veneers requires reshaping your teeth. Your dentist needs to remove some enamel from the front and sides of your teeth so the veneers can fit seamlessly and look natural. And once your tooth enamel is gone, it doesn’t grow back.

Repairing/replacing veneers: Veneers are sturdy and meant to withstand everyday wear. Though they typically last 7-15 years, you might have to repair or replace them if they become damaged or loosen over time.

If a veneer has a small chip, we can usually repair it. However, if the damage is more substantial — like a crack or larger chip — the veneer will most likely need replacing. As for loose veneers, your dentist can typically reattach it in a simple procedure if it is intact.

4. How the Process Works for Dental Veneers

Getting dental veneers is a straightforward process and typically takes 2-3 visits to our comfortable Mission Viejo or San Clemente office. Of course, the foundation for any successful cosmetic dentistry treatment is careful planning — and that’s exactly how we approach dental veneers.

Planning Your Dental Veneer Treatment

Getting dental veneers at Shoreline Dental Studio starts with a conversation with your Shoreline dentist about your teeth goals. What dental issues do you want improved? Is it chipped teeth? Discoloration? Gaps?

We’ll examine your teeth for any oral health issues that need resolving before going ahead with veneers. If your teeth and gums are healthy, then we can move forward with diagnostics. Our team will take models, photographs, and digital x-rays from which we create a perfect blueprint that lays out your treatment from start to finish. The design of your dental veneers — their color, shape, size — will take into account the state of your teeth and your aesthetic goals.

Once a plan is in place for your veneers and teeth, you’ll visit Shoreline Dental Studio for two more appointments: one for preparing your teeth, and another for bonding the veneers onto them.

Steps for Getting Your New Veneer Teeth

Step 1: We gently remove some enamel from the front and sides of your teeth. Before we do, we’ll discuss if you would like numbing to make the experience more comfortable.

Step 2: We take a mold of your prepared teeth and decide on the veneer shade that meets your goals. Your dental impression is sent to a specialized lab that custom-makes your veneers.

Step 3: Your Shoreline dentist makes temporary acrylic restorations that mimic your veneers. You wear these for about three weeks. These stand-ins provide a preview of your smile’s overall look and give you an opportunity to add further input about your upcoming smile.

Step 4: This is when it all comes together: getting your dental veneers attached! Your dentist will place each veneer to check for fit and color, trimming if needed for a perfect fit. Your teeth are also cleaned, polished, and etched — the last to roughen the tooth for stronger bonding.

Each veneer is bonded with dental veneer adhesive. A specialized light activates the adhesive, causing it to harden quickly. Any excess dental veneer adhesive is removed. Next, we check your bite and fit one last time, and voilà! Your new smile!

We might ask you to come back in a few weeks to check on your veneers’ fit and placement.

5. How Dental Veneers Compare to Other Treatments

Dental veneers are just one of the cosmetic dentistry options we offer. And since we understand that cosmetic dental procedures are a big decision, we know you’ll want to weigh all your options: Dental veneers pros and cons? Dental bonding vs veneers? A dental crown vs a veneer? We’re happy to answer all your questions with patience and care.

6. How Much Do Dental Veneers Cost?

The cost of veneers is unique to each patient and depends on how much restoration is needed to achieve your desired smile. As for insurance, dental veneers aren’t typically covered, but we can help you find out your insurance details to make sure.

Your Mission Viejo/San Clemente Cosmetic Dentist for Veneers

Ready to transform your smile with dental veneers? Take advantage of our “New Year, New You” promotion! Running January – March, 2022, receive up to $750 off cosmetic restorations.

6 Things You Should Know About Getting Dental Veneers